Carnival in Uruguay

The Uruguay Carnival is a special festival that is celebrated annually in Uruguay during the third week of January and ends in mid-March. This year, it begins on March 3. The carnival is related to Murga, candombe, and tablados. The carnival has been a popular tradition in the country for many years. The activities conducted during the ceremonies have evolved with time while keeping the essence of the culture. The Uruguay Carnival can be seen as a dance parade, and there are different comparsas who play the drums and dance joyfully to the music. The capital, Montevideo, hosts the biggest carnival celebrations, lasting up to 40 days. HISTORY OF URUGUAY CARNIVAL The Uruguay Carnival is considered to be the biggest carnival celebration in the capital city of Montevideo. The event features a series of cultural events, such as dance parades in the streets. There is a lovely artistic contest in the Teatro de Verano, which means “Summer Theater.” The carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, are quite different from those in Uruguay. This is because they don’t follow the Christian calendar of carnival, which usually finishes at the beginning of Lent and about six weeks before Easter. The carnival in Uruguay, however, begins in the third week of January and ends in mid-March. In the mid-18th century, enslaved people were given one day to celebrate their cultural identity. These celebrations were filled with entertaining Candombe, which is a form of drum-based music. The celebrations continued even after the slaves got their freedom. The candombe style eventually merged with the existing traditional Uruguayan music. This musical fusion led to a blend of African and Uruguayan rhythms. When the carnival begins in the third week of January, it starts with the Inaugural Parade. The Uruguay carnival then spans about 40 consecutive days. The celebrations can last longer if rain falls and leads to delays. The Uruguayan Carnival begins to stir even months before the main festivities and parades. There are performances featuring renowned artists and musicians. People enjoy week-long comedy stage shows that feature classic satire artists who expertly parody the ways of the world. Only two days are officially given to the Uruguayan locals as public holidays.